A water main break on East 140th Street and Coit Road in Cleveland's East Side early Thursday morning resulted in a sizeable sinkhole, threatening to consume a vehicle, according to reports from Cleveland19. The car was discovered stranded, having been ensnared by the earth as the pavement caved in near a public transit stop. Further disruptions occurred as two additional vehicles broke down behind the sinkhole, victims of the mud and high water left in the wake of the main rupture.
Repercussions from the incident necessitated alterations to traffic and bus routes; the Greater Cleveland RTA's Route #10 was detoured as a result of the street's closure, reported RTA spokesperson Robert Fleig. The Cleveland Division of Fire, led by Lt. Mike Norman, responded to the scene, evaluating the situation and assessing the extensive damage done to the roadway. "It goes without saying that this 18” water main break did severe damage to the roadway itself and its foundation, Lt. Norman said in a statement obtained by Cleveland19. Thankfully, no injuries of a grave nature were reported, although the incident left motorists with significantly damaged vehicles.
The extent of the damages called into question the integrity of the city's infrastructure. Marty Keane, Director of Public Utilities, ensured that the roadway, recently resurfaced, would receive a thorough reconstruction, inclusive of the treelawn and sidewalks, as he expressed to Cleveland19. Concerns also extended to potential damages at the Cleveland Job Corps Center, which officials aimed to address promptly.
In a less fortunate turn of events, the water main rupture and subsequent flooding on East 140th Street drew the attention of area workers and locals as the road caved in on itself. One onlooker, Mike Mathna, captured the sentiment of the day, saying, "You think you got potholes in your city? You come here and check this out," according to a WKYC news interview. Repairs commenced as crews sought to manage the break and understand how the road was undermined, prompting police to halt the flow of traffic along the affected street, leaving only the rush of water unimpeded.
While the Cleveland Division of Water managed to shut off the water main by Thursday afternoon, drivers were urged to avoid the vicinity of Coit Avenue and St. Clair Avenue, due to the serious roadway conditions, noted a spokesperson in a statement provided to FOX8 News. Vehicles that had been trapped by the sinkhole were removed, and no injuries were reported. However, questions regarding the financial impact on affected motorists remain, hinging largely on the breadth of their insurance coverage.
